SN Aboitiz to boost sustainability program

MANILA, Philippines — SN Aboitiz Power Group (SNAP) — the joint venture of Norway-based Scatec Solar and Aboitiz Power Corp. —vowed to continue strengthening its sustainability performance as it pushes for the development of cleaner forms of energy in the country.

With the global shift toward more sustainable forms of energy, SNAP said it continues to strengthen its position by focusing on how its current programs and operational activities align with its key sustainability priorities.

“Sustainability has always been a part of how we do business,” SNAP president and CEO Joseph Yu said.

“Our goal is to not only ensure the long-term viability of our operations but to also contribute more concretely to the UN’s sustainable development goals,” he said.

SNAP’s operational and sustainability practices are in alignment with and contribute directly to select SDGs, including Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7), Climate Action (SDG 13), Occupational Health and Safety (SDG 3), Community Engagement (SDG 17), and Pandemic Response (SDG 3).

In seeking opportunities to expand its renewable energy portfolio, SNAP-Magat is developing a battery energy storage system (BESS) project with a 20-megawatt (MW) capacity and 20-megawatt-hour (MWh) energy storage in Ramon, Isabela.

The company said early work activities have been completed and it is looking at the second half of 2024 to start the commercial operation of its first BESS project.

SNAP is also working on the expansion of the Magat floating solar project. It piloted the 200-kilowatt floating solar over the Magat reservoir in 2019, its first non-hydro renewable project.

The firm has proven its technical and commercial viability, and based on the results of the pre-feasibility studies, phase one of the project will be for 67 MW.

While 2021 has brought unprecedented health, economic, and environmental challenges, SNAP said it has been able to respond efficiently to the rapidly changing conditions created by the COVID-19 pandemic with agility and resilience.

The firm continues to partner with its communities in Benguet, Isabela, Ifugao, and Nueva Vizcaya through its corporate social responsibility and sustainability (CSRS) program.

Last year, it deployed P30 million for 56 projects on infrastructure, education, livelihood, indigenous culture, governance, health, and the environment in partnership with local government units, host communities, and indigenous peoples’ organizations.

In addition to its CSRS program, SNAP has provided approximately P81 million to its host communities in 2021 as part of the Department of Energy’s ER 1-94 program, which provides host communities of power generating facilities with a one-centavo share for every P0.01 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of total electricity sales.

The program normally covers projects for electrification, livelihood, health, reforestation, watershed management, and other environmental initiatives.

“Supporting our host communities is an integral part of our operations,” SNAP vice president and chief corporate affairs officer Mike Hosillos said.

“Since 2008, we have been purposeful in our commitment and approach to community development – which, ultimately, means empowering our communities to identify their needs, and seeing how we can work together to address them.”